Hand tool for crimping electrical connectors onto conductors



May 29, 1962 3,036,308

HAND TOOL'. FOR CRIMPING ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS ONTO CONDUCTORS H. w.DEMLER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 18, 1959 mmvron. HENRY \J. Denna y1952 H. w. DEMLER 3,036,308

HAND TOOL FOR CRIMPING ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS ou'ro CONDUCTORS Filed Aug.18, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ENRHI \J. DEMLER May 29, 1962 H. w. DEMLER HAND TOOL FOR CRIMPINGELECTRICAL CONNECTORS ONTO 'CQNDUCTQRS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 18,1959 INVENTOR. Him w. DEN-ER May 29, 1962 H. w. DEMLER 3,036,308

HAND TOOL FOR CRIMPING ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS ONTO cououcmas Filed Aug.18, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Lwll IN V EN TOR.

. HENRY \J. DEHLER BY 3,036,383 HAND TOOL FOR CRIMPING ELECTRECALCONNECTORS ONTO CONDUCTORS Henry W. Demler, Lebanon, Pa., assignor toAMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa. Filed Aug. 18, 1959, Ser. No. 834,427Claims. (Cl. 1-215) This application constitutes a continuation-in-partof my previously filed application (CMS No. 123,148), filed May 19,1959, Serial No. 814,339, now U.S. Patent No. 2,968,043 granted Jan. 17,1961 for Hand Tool for Crimping Electrical Connectors Onto Conductors.

My previously filed application, identified above, relates to anexplosively-operated hand tool capable of crimping electrical connectorsonto conductors. A feature of this tool involves its ability to fire acartridge internally, i.e., the firing mechanism is constructed so as toenter the cylindrical cartridge and detonate a primer located centrallyand internally of the cartridge. Detonation of this primer causesactuation of an explosive material which drives a die toward .a secondcooperating die in the tool to crimp a connector placed therebetween.One of the problems involved is the formation of an air pocket in thecartridge which tended to prevent the detonating means from developingsutficient force to explode the primer. Addition of a spring suiiicientto overcome this resistance made the tool difilcult to operate, andrelieving the detonating means to permit air to escape weakened thedevice and permitted blow-out at the point of relief.

It is an object of this invention to provide an explosive tool of thetype described, whereby the detonating ram completely supports the plugin the cartridge but does not compress air in the cartridge. It is alsoan object of this invention to provide a tool having a pair oftelescopic members with the inside member being relieved to permit airto be expelled during the detonation stroke; that is, the rearwardtravel of the ram. On the forward travel of the ram, the ram and thetelescopic sleeve move together as a unit.

It is also an object of this invention to provide anexplosively-operated tool wherein the actuating trigger or handle maynot be inadvertently cocked or released. This is accomplished by alocking means, including the actuating means, to be moved downwardlyfirst before being moved rearwardly. To re-set the device, the ram againmust be moved forwardly and then downwardly to permit it to be retractedpast the locking means. The net result is that the device may neither becocked nor released inadvertently. Another object of this invention isto provide an improved and eflicient article holding means.

Other objects and attainments of the present invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the followingdetailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawing in whichthere is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of theinvention; it is to be understood, however, that this embodiment is notintended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention but is given forpurposes of illustration in order that others skilled in the art mayfully understand the invention and the principles thereof and the mannerof applying it in practical use so that they may modify it in variousforms, each as may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a tool embodying principles of thisinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view of the linkage on the front handle;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective exploded view of the ram and the plunger;

3,935,38 Patented May 29, 1962 FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken alongplane 4-4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along plane 55 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURES 6 and 7 are sectional fragmentary views of the dies andactuating mechanism in their pre-operated and post-operated conditionsrespectively;

FIGURES 8 through 10 are partial views of the device for actuating thedie during the firing cycle;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary view of the article holding means;

FIGURE 12 is a View similar to FIGURE 11 showing the article holdingmeans in retracted position;

FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of the trigger and linkage of thearticle holding means; and

FIGURE 14 is a view taken along plane 14-14 of FIGURE 11.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the device comprises a C- shaped body member 10, afixed handle 12 and a pivoted handle 14. A pair of dies 16 and '18 arepositioned within the C-shaped body member. One die 16 may be fixedtherein with the other die 18 slidable longitudinally relative to die16. Actuation of the slidable die toward the fixed die effects thecrimping of an electrical connector placed therebetween.

A ram 20 on one end of the fixed die 18 projects into a tube or sleeve22 (FIGURE 4), which is also slidable in the body member. The ram 25!may be square or hexagonal, or otherwise relieved, so that it slidesfreely within the tube 22 without forming an air cushion in the closedend of the tube.

One end of the tube 22 is closed by a plug 24 with a detonating pointprojecting outwardly therefrom. A shoulder 26 on the other end of thetube 22 engages the die 18 when the ram is telescoped into the tube 22.

A cartridge 28 is located in the body member so that the cartridge isreceived within a sleeve 30 threaded into the body member. The sleeve 30abuts a bushing 32 which is force-fitted into the body member andslidably accommodates the sleeve 22. A cap 34 is detachably secured tothe sleeve 30 to retain the cartridge 28 therein. The cartridge includesan explosive powder 36, a plug 38 and an internal primer 4% in the plug38 to detonate the powder 36. The cartridge and plug may advantageouslybe made of plastic. A connector locating means (described in my previousapplication) may be secured to the tool.

It is observed that when the device is in the position shown in FIGURE 4with an electrical connector between the dies, actuation of the die isdriving it rearwardly causes the die 18 to strike the shoulder 26 of thesleeve 22. This, in turn, drives the plug 24- percussively against theprimer 40 to detonate the primer and thereby ignite the explosivemixture 36. The force of the explosion expels the plug 38 outwardly,driving the sleeve 22 and the telescopic ram 2i) ahead of it. Since thedie 18 is on the front end of the ram, the die is also hurled toward thefixed die 16 to crimp the connector therebetween (note FIGURES 6 and 7).Closing of the dies limits the travel of ram 20, plug 38, etc.

In the illustrated embodiment, the device for actuating the ram includesa first link or lever 44 pivoted in the body member at 48, and a secondlink or lever 46 pivoted at 50. The lever 44 abuts the front end of thedie 18, whereas the lever 4-6 abuts a shoulder 52 on the opposite sideof the die 18. The bar $4 is slidable between the levers 44 and 46 andis spring loaded at 56 with one end of the spring secured to the link44. Hence, the link 46 locks the die 18, and consequently the link 44,against rearward motion. During the firing cycle, rearward motion of thebar 54 loads the spring 56. A tab 58 is struck out of the bar 54 so thatthe path of the tab overlaps the link 46.

its forward or article holding position.

Continued rearward movement of the bar 54 causes the tab 58 to strikethe link 46, thus rotating the link in a counter-clockwise direction andmoving it out of the path of the die 13. Since the die 18 is no longerlocked against rearward motion, the link44 throws the 'die and ramrearwardly under the action of the spring '56. The link 44 is moved in aclockwise direction driving the die 18 rearwardly to cause thedetonation of the primer and explosiveas previously described.

- The handle 14 is pivoted about a pin 66 located in an elongated slot62. The head of the handle projects upwardly so that a pin 64 located inthe body projects into the path of the handle. A spring 66 normallyretains the handle in this upward or locked position.

When it is desired to actuate the device, the handle 14 must be'moveddownwardly against the action of spring 66 to permit the slot 62 toslide relative to the fixed pin 60. This moves the rotational path ofthe head of the handle away from the pin 64 and permits the handle to bepivoted in a counter-clockwise direction to actuate the triggermechanism. After the device is fired, the spring loaded means 66 againretracts the handle so that the handle cannot be moved back into cockingposition until itis moved downwardly 'so that its path is notintersected by the pin 64. This prevents inadvertent cocking or firingof the device.

As shown in FIGURES 8-l0, the bottom portion of the two links are joinedby a spring member 68. These spring members are under tension when thedevice is cocked and released'when the device is fired. This permits thedevice to be re-set by moving the handle forwardly. Motion of the handleforwardly (after it has been released from the path of the pin 64) movesthe link 44 back into position. The tension of the spring 68 causes theopposite link 46 also to be rotated into its actuatingposition; The die18 may be manually moved into firing position to reset.

An embodiment of an improved article holding means is best illustratedin FIGURES 11-14. As shown in FIG- URE 14, the holding arms 80 and 82are positioned, one on each side of the tool. One end of the arm isadjacent the'dies, and the other is pivoted by acommon pivot pin 84which is located transversely of the axis of the tool. A triggermechanism (FIGURE 13), generally designated 86, includes a pair of arms88 and 90 joined by a common finger piece 92. The link 90 is alsopivoted about a pin 94 located in the' tool. The link 90 issubstantially V- shaped and has another pivot pin 96 at the free endthereof. The other end of the link is oif-set and secured to the fingerpiece 92. A second link 98 is also secured to pivot pin 96 and, in turn,is pivoted to the link 80. A spring means 100 normally holds the link80in As shown in FIGURES 12 and 11, movement of the finger piece 92 in acounter-clockwise direction causes the link 98 to be rotated clockwise.The link 98 moves the'wire holding mechanism 80 counter-clockwise, asshown in FIGURE 12, to retract it from the connector and Wire. When thefinger piece 92 is released, the spring 100 returns the link 80 to thewire holding position as shown in FIGURE 11. The opposite link 82operates in the same manner at the same time.

When it is desired to crimp a connector C and a wire W in the tool, thearticle holding means is retracted and the connector is placed in thefixed die with a wire therein. The finger piece is released so that thelinks and 82 snap forwardly to bind the wire and connector against thedie. After the crimp is made, depression of the trigger means 92retracts the links 80 and 82, thus permitting the connector and wire tobe removed from the tool.

Changes in construction will occur to those skilled in the art andvarious apparently different modifications and embodiments may be madewithout departing from the scope of the invention. The matter set forthin the foregoing'description and accompanying drawings is offered by wayof illustration only. The actual scope of the invention is intended tobe defined in the following claims when viewed in their properperspective against the prior art.

I claim:

1. A tool for crimping electrical connectors including a pair ofrelatively movable dies adapted to crimp the connectors therebetween,explosive means for actuating said dies, means for detonating saidexplosive means including a first detonating member and a second impactmember telescopically slidable with respect to said first member, diemeans carried by said second member, and means for driving the secondmember against the first member to detonate the explosive.

2. A tool for crimping electrical connectors including a body member, afixed die in said body member, a slidable die in said body member, a ramhaving one end secured to said slidable die, said ram projecting intothe body member, said ram adapted to detonate a cartridge in said bodymember of the type having an explosive charge therein and a detonatiugmeans located internally in said cartridge, means on the free end of theram for actuating said detonating means, a slidable tube means in saidbody member surrounding said ram, and means on said ram for bleeding airfrom said tube means when the ram is driven toward said detonatingmeans.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the means for bleeding the air from-thetube means comprises at least one flat side on the periphery of the ram.

4. A tool for crimping terminals including a pair of relatively movabledies, explosive means actuating said dies, means for detonating saidexplosive means comprising a pivoted handle on said tool, and means forlocking said handle against pivotal movement disengageable to permit thehandle to be released and permitted to pivot.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the means for locking the handleincludes a pin on the tool in the path of the handle, and means forvarying the path of the handle so that it does not intersect the pin.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 583,158Upham May 25, 1897 756,068 Simmons Mar. 29, 1904 2,008,362 LittlehaleJuly 16, 1935 2,145,714 Holfman Jan. 31, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS 947,239Germany Aug. 9, 1956

